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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. It's one o'clock ________________.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  16. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. trunk — of an elephant
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. trunk — of a tree
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. sharp — clever
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. lie — to recline
  11. mark — a grade
  12. sharp — exactly
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. trunk — of a car
  16. perch — the fish
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. toast — bread
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. mark — a trace
  21. current — happening now
  22. current — of water
  23. sharp — with an edge
  24. current — electric

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com